Volume One, Chapter 14: The Window Remains Unclosed

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Pfft~

[Wei Hongying] covered her mouth and giggled softly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I was only joking. Or... do you really want to take a bath with me?”

“No, no, you... you go ahead.” As a lifelong bachelor, Chu Xinghe had no idea how to withstand such an assault. He did not even dare look at her.

“Won’t you think it over? Once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone for good. Though the other ‘me’ loves you very much too, she would never agree to such an indecent request.” [Wei Hongying] crept close to Chu Xinghe like a daring little stray cat, her eyes hazy and her voice languidly seductive.

Gulp~

Chu Xinghe swallowed despite himself. Removed from the perilous environment and placed inside Wei Hongying’s warm, comfortable apartment, [Wei Hongying]’s teasing was practically lethal.

“N-no... I’d rather study the Ghost Finger a little more.” Chu Xinghe held both hands defensively in front of himself and came up with a clumsy excuse.

“Then I really will go wash up.” [Wei Hongying]’s hand circled once around his neck before she finally sauntered toward the bathroom.

“Whew...”

Only after the bathroom door closed did Chu Xinghe let out a long breath of relief. He turned and opened his computer. Sitting in his inbox was a research report on the Ghost Mirror that Wei Hongying had just sent him.

Wei Hongying had brought the Ghost Mirror back to the Bureau of Anomalous Control, where the relevant researchers had soon subjected it to every conceivable test. Their current conclusion was that it could not be contained, sealed, or destroyed.

As for the part that concerned him most, the report offered nothing. No one knew how to preserve the existence of the person in the mirror without killing the original and taking her place.

It was already midnight on the second day. If he did nothing, [Wei Hongying] would vanish completely once dawn arrived.

But what could he do? In the end, [Wei Hongying]’s existence itself was a mistake. Perhaps allowing that mistake to disappear was the right thing to do.

Just as he found himself caught between action and inaction, a dark shadow silently coiled around him from behind. By the time Chu Xinghe realized what was happening, it was already too late. Two towering mountains pressed against his back without warning, their heavy weight leaving him unable to move.

“What are you doing?” Chu Xinghe asked helplessly. He had nearly reacted instinctively and unleashed the power of the Ghost Finger.

“Is there anything wrong with hugging the person I love?” [Wei Hongying]’s lazy, slightly coquettish voice sounded beside his ear. Her arms slipped around his chest, and a cold fingertip traced circles over his heart.

“......”

Chu Xinghe had absolutely no defense against such a direct assault. After everything they had been through together, he had already developed feelings for Wei Hongying. And to make matters worse, Wei Hongying herself was a breathtaking beauty flawless in every respect.

When one loves a person, one loves everything connected to her. The same was true of [Wei Hongying].

“You’re not saying anything, so I’ll take that as consent. But don’t turn around—I just finished bathing and haven’t had time to put my clothes back on.” This time, a hint of shyness colored [Wei Hongying]’s voice, leaving plenty to the imagination.

At her words, images immediately sprang into Chu Xinghe’s mind. As a young man in the full vigor of youth, he felt heat spread through his entire body.

“Then hurry up and put your clothes on!” Chu Xinghe covered his eyes, already regretting everything. He should never have remained alone with [Wei Hongying]. What official could possibly withstand a trial like this?

“I was only teasing you. Even I couldn’t bring myself to do something so shameless.” [Wei Hongying] moved around from behind him to the front and sat down on his thighs. She casually closed the laptop as well, lest Chu Xinghe continue looking at those mood-killing documents.

“You saying that has absolutely no credibility.” Chu Xinghe slowly parted the fingers covering his eyes. When he saw that his view was not filled with bare skin, he lowered his hand, feeling both relieved and faintly disappointed.

“Judging by your expression, you seem a little disappointed. So there really is someone who wanted to see, after all.” [Wei Hongying] lightly touched her crimson lips with one finger and regarded him with a sly smile.

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“I didn’t. I’m not. Don’t talk nonsense.” Chu Xinghe’s old face flushed red. Afraid that matters might escalate if this continued, he turned his head away and said, “It’s getting late. You should go to sleep.”

Once [Wei Hongying] had fallen asleep, he intended to search again for a solution. Even if hope was slim, it was still better than doing nothing.

As he spoke, he tried to lift [Wei Hongying] off him, but she kept her arms affectionately looped around his neck, showing no intention of getting down.

“Xinghe, sleep with me.” [Wei Hongying]’s voice was soft and sweet as she nuzzled her head against his chest.

“This... is another joke, right?” Chu Xinghe’s Adam’s apple rolled with difficulty. The same trick would not work twice on a seasoned warrior.

“I’m serious this time. But I mean ‘sleep’ in the literal sense, of course. Naturally, if you insist on forcing yourself on me, I suppose a weak woman like me wouldn’t have much strength to resist.” [Wei Hongying] pretended to be bashful and buried her face.

“......”

Chu Xinghe felt that sooner or later she would reel him in completely. While he still had a shred of reason left, he hurriedly said, “I still have things to take care of. You go to sleep by yourself first.”

But [Wei Hongying] still did not let go. After a moment of silence, she raised her head again. The mischief had vanished from her face, replaced by a calm acceptance of fate.

“Xinghe, it’s useless.”

She shook her head gently, unwilling to let Chu Xinghe waste his energy on her any longer. The kinder he was to her, the more desperately she wanted to kill the original and take her place. In the end, it was destined to become a tragedy.

“There’s still one night before dawn. I want my final moment to be in the arms of the person I love, not alone in darkness and solitude.”

Hearing this, Chu Xinghe slowly stopped what he was doing. He became as motionless as a statue. After a long while, he finally came back to himself.

“Is there anyone else you want to see, or anything you want to do?” The question meant that Chu Xinghe had truly given up.

[Wei Hongying] paused, then slowly shook her head. A trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes. Those things belonged to the original, not to her.

“I’m tired. Will you carry me back to the bedroom?” [Wei Hongying] leaned lightly against his shoulder. She had maintained an air of effortless control all day, but now she was truly exhausted.

“All right...” Chu Xinghe felt as though something were lodged in his throat, leaving him with an indescribable ache.

Once inside the bedroom, Chu Xinghe carefully placed [Wei Hongying] on the bed, as though setting down a fragile glass ornament.

“Go to sleep. I’m not leaving.” Chu Xinghe tucked the covers around her and sat beside the head of the bed.

“I can’t sleep. It would be nice if I had something to hold.” [Wei Hongying] made her meaning deliberately clear.

“I’ll get you a pillow to hug...” Chu Xinghe pretended not to understand.

“Ah, so in the end I’m still destined to die in some forgotten corner, clutching nothing but a cold pillow?” [Wei Hongying] made a show of covering her face and weeping.

“That’s enough of that.” Chu Xinghe rolled his eyes at her. After hesitating briefly, he nevertheless found a spacious spot and lay down.

He had barely settled into position when an octopus emerged from the dark depths. Its soft limbs wrapped tightly around him, while a slick, warm sensation brushed his cheek.

“You said we were only going to sleep!” Chu Xinghe cried, realizing he had been tricked. [Wei Hongying] showed no sign whatsoever of wanting to sleep.

“Come to think of it, using the final stretch of my life to sleep would be such a waste. I should spend it creating some unforgettable memories instead.” [Wei Hongying]’s hot breath washed over Chu Xinghe’s face, carrying a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that left his senses reeling.

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“What do you mean by ‘unforgettable memories’...?” Chu Xinghe watched [Wei Hongying] lick her lips with alluring grace. He had a vague idea of what she meant, yet he was not entirely certain.

“For example... this.” As she spoke, [Wei Hongying] lowered her lovely head and gently caught Chu Xinghe’s lips between hers, as though tasting the flesh of a freshly peeled lychee.

Her technique was somewhat unpracticed, but the intensity of her love more than made up for it.

At first, Chu Xinghe was at a loss, able only to let her pry open his lips. But before long, he found his rhythm without instruction. His aimless hands instinctively climbed to [Wei Hongying]’s slender waist.

In the dim room, their breaths gradually intertwined, weaving together into a passionate melody.

......

As their passion deepened, a delicate, boneless hand reached Chu Xinghe’s waistband and began to tug downward. The sudden movement instantly roused him from the gentle haze.

“Wait, don’t...” Chu Xinghe moved with lightning speed and caught [Wei Hongying]’s restless hand.

“Because it’s me... is that not allowed?” [Wei Hongying]’s body trembled, and her voice sounded as though it might shatter.

“That’s not it...” Chu Xinghe realized at once that she had misunderstood. He hurriedly explained, “The win... the balcony window is still open!”

At his words, [Wei Hongying] turned her head toward the balcony. The mischievous night breeze occasionally lifted one corner of the curtain, allowing a few strands of silvery moonlight to spill into the darkened room.

Realizing that she had made a terrible misunderstanding, [Wei Hongying]’s face turned scarlet. She plunged headfirst beneath the covers and wrapped herself up like a dumpling. Her muffled voice came from within the blanket.

“Then go and come back quickly.”

Chu Xinghe suddenly felt the weight lift from his body. He had barely gotten off the bed, with only both feet touching the floor, when a small hand emerged from beneath the covers behind him and caught hold of his clothes. Half a head appeared as well, those lovely eyes shimmering with emotion.

“You’ll come back, won’t you?” [Wei Hongying] gazed at him anxiously, like a kitten afraid its owner was about to abandon it.

The sight struck the softest place in Chu Xinghe’s heart. His expression grew gentler.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Then it’s a promise.” Having said this, [Wei Hongying] withdrew beneath the covers, her face burning. She felt like a bride waiting for her husband on their wedding night.

Looking at the blanket raised like a little hill, Chu Xinghe could not help laughing. He gently patted the bulging mound.

“Yes. It’s a promise.”

Then he crossed the room in three quick strides and went to the balcony. With one sweep, he pulled aside the curtain, preparing to shut the floor-to-ceiling window.

But the moment he lifted the curtain, the expression on Chu Xinghe’s face froze. A familiar redwood mirror sat silently before the balcony, bathed in the pure moonlight and appearing utterly harmless.

He had no time to wonder why the Ghost Mirror had appeared there. A powerful surge of terror flooded his heart, and he whipped around.

“Hongying!”

Chu Xinghe rushed to the bed like a madman. The little hill that had been raised beneath the covers only a moment before had completely collapsed. No matter how tightly he held them, all that remained in his arms was a bedclothes, still warm from the lingering heat of her body.

......

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